Posted By John Moore On June 27, 2009 @ 10:00 am In Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Friends are asking the theater community to come to the aid of actor Mary McGroary, who is currently appearing in Boulder’s Dinner Theatre’s production of “Annie.”

McGroary suffered a double loss on June 25 when severe rain hit the metro area. The ground-level apartment McGroary rents on the 5300 block of South Cherry Creek Drive was submerged under 5 feet of mud and water after a sudden flash flood hit about 2 p.m.

[1]Mary McGroary with her dog, Rosie, in 2007. Photo by Scot Sanders.

McGroary’s dog, a miniature schnauzer named Rosie, drowned, and all of the actor’s personal possesions were destroyed. She has her limited renter’s insurance, but flood damage is not covered by the owner of her condo, which was left uninhabitable.

“A neighbor told me that within seconds, the water was waist-high, and he considers himself lucky to have gotten out,” said McGroary. “Unfortunately, I was not at home, and Rosie was in her kennel, with no way out.”

Says friend and castmate Shelly Cox-Robie: “All of us at BDT are still in shock over the news. We can’t stop thinking about her and wondering how we can help her. Poor thing literally has the clothes on her back, her car and the things in her drawer at work.”

Friend Scot Sanders has set up a PayPal account for donations. Go to www.paypal.com[2] and follow these instructions:

Under “Pay online,” click the link that says: “Send money to friends and family around the world.” Under “Send Money To,” enter the following email address: fundformaryandrosie@gmail.com. You will have to type that address in – it won’t accept cut and paste.

If you have a paypal account, it will then ask you to log in. If not, you will be asked to set up an account and enter your credit-card information.

Says Sanders: “Any amount will help her. She’s basically starting from scratch at rebuilding her life. Thanks to everyone for all their love and support. Mary is a strong woman and will get through this thanks to friends and family.”

He says expenses will include her relocation and her dog’s cremation. It’s undetermined yet whether she will get her deposit back, or if she might somehow be legally responsible for the clean-up of the condo.

Please contact Sanders directly if you would prefer to offer any non-cash donations, donate time to help reclaim or clear out her possessions (if necessary) or to simply offer support. His email address is scot.david.sanders@gmail.com

Sanders adds: “I also encourage you to pass this message on to anyone or any organizations you believe might be sympathetic to Mary’s situation. Please help to rebuild Mary’s life in her hour of need.”